Village leaders aim to modernize aging police and fire facilities amid state pressure on small municipalities
Boston Heights officials announced plans Nov. 3 to build a new safety center that would combine the village’s police and fire departments into one modern facility, addressing critical infrastructure needs while securing the village’s future as an independent municipality.
The proposed $9 million project would connect the existing fire station at 15 E. Boston Mills Road with a new wing for police and administrative offices. The fire station would also receive necessary upgrades. The design honors the strong mid-century character of the existing building, according to village officials.
The project includes the full renovation of the existing 7,500-square-foot fire station and an addition of 14,700 square feet. Plans call for code-compliant fire department apparatus bays that would eliminate the risk of carcinogens, a police detainee process designed for officer and citizen safety, and a facility suitable for community-wide events.
The village’s police department currently operates from the basement of the over 100-year-old Village Hall. Officials described the space as cramped, outdated and not up to modern safety standards. A Bureau of Criminal Investigation review found numerous issues with the facility, though officials noted that some problems are fixable while others are not.
Boston Heights has secured $1.7 million in state and federal grants, including $850,000 from the Ohio Senate OTSCIF Capital Bill and another $850,000 expected from a 2025 Community Funding Project through U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes. These grants have funded conceptual planning and potential design options to date.
The village has worked with DS Architecture, a firm that specializes in public safety facilities, over the past year and a half to explore what Boston Heights needs now and what may be needed 10 to 15 years from now.
The target budget will be financed through grants, bonds, existing village funds and potential naming rights. The bond will be paid back by regional income tax from businesses operating in the village. Currently, there are no plans to use property tax money, officials said.
Officials emphasized that no village funds have been spent to date and nothing has been finalized. The plan remains in the evaluation stage for concepts and building designs.
The historic Village Hall has served the community well but maintaining it has become increasingly difficult. Last winter, water pipes froze for a week. While officials do not plan to tear down Village Hall, its future use remains open for discussion. Ideas include a community center or a small local shop.
Officials said they had not planned to share details yet but wanted to address recent rumors and misinformation with facts. Once plans, cost estimates and financing details are finalized, a public meeting will be held to present everything openly before council votes.
The announcement was signed by Mayor Ron Antal and Dave Maccarone, council president and chair of the Public Safety Committee. Maccarone recently led efforts to censure a fellow council member in a historic vote.
The announcement comes as House Bill 331 creates a pathway for dissolving villages and small municipalities that cannot sustain essential services. The bill requires counties to evaluate villages every 10 years to determine if they provide sufficient public services and field candidates for elected positions.
Police protection is listed as the first service on the evaluation checklist. Village officials warned that without meaningful updates, they risk losing their police department altogether.
If the village were to lose its department, law enforcement duties would fall to the county sheriff’s office. That would mean fewer patrols, higher costs and far less personal service, officials said. Officers who know families and streets best would not be present day to day.
The project would ensure Boston Heights maintains its police protection and village identity. Officials noted that the village has been fortunate to secure the grants for planning and design work.
Once evaluation, planning and financing are complete, officials said the real work can begin with community support. Renderings are available to view at Village Hall.
